Three CUPE members killed on the job in February

Three CUPE members were killed on the job in February.

CUPE 4946 member Dellis Partridge, 60, was killed at work during his first shift as a bus driver with the Peace River School Division. The bus he was driving collided head-on with a semi truck near Grimshaw, Alberta. Fourteen students were passengers on the bus. All sustained injuries, as did the truck driver. There were no other fatalities.

CUPE 30 member Harl Hawley, a pool service employee with the City of Edmonton, passed away suddenly while working at the Grand Trunk Recreational Centre. The cause of his death is unclear.

CUPE 503 member Alain Bissonnette, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician for the City of Ottawa, died at the Peter D. Clark Long Term Care Home. He was 40 years old. The Ontario Ministry of Labour was still investigating the cause of death, but also issued orders to install protective cages and railings on ladders in the facility.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the families of these members,” said CUPE National President Paul Moist. “Coming home from work healthy and safe everyday is something we can’t take for granted, as we’ve been so grimly reminded. We must redouble our efforts to protect our members and all workers.”

CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury also offered his sympathies.

“Our thoughts are with the families of these workers, and also with their friends and colleagues,” said Fleury. “It’s been a very difficult month for some of our locals.”